I got turned on to Thomas Sowell with "Black Rednecks and White Liberals." He described it so well. It's culture. And when I say culture, I actually mean cultural expectations.
If you have standards and merit-based rewards. Such as Thomas Sowell being born to a working family in Spanish Harlem in New York City. And now, having been a fellow of Economics at Harvard. And a published author. It has zero to do with his skin color, though others would make a big deal of it, including other black people.
Also, his book on basic economics should be required reading regardless of school requirements. If I was homeschooling, that would be the next book after basic reading and math skills. Learn how economy of scarcity works.
What he says is spot on correct, no exaggeration.